Apparatus for the extraction of the kernel or kernels from a nut



July 15, 1947. RA. DEUTSCH 21 49 APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTIQN OF THE KERNELVOR\ KERNELS ROM A N UT i BYM Arrow!!! u y F. A. DEUTSCH '2 ,424,022

LSFRQMANUTA APPARA'US FOR THE EXTRACTION OF THE KERNEL OR KERNE INVENTOR: E'tz Aleel-t Deutsd' Patented July 15, 19 47 APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF THE KERNEL OR KERNELS FROM A NUT Fritz Albert Deutsch, Caracas, Venezuela Application October 12, 1945, Serlal No. 621 .,919V2 23 Claim. (Cl. 146-10) My invention relates to an apparatus for 'the extraction. of the kernel or kernels from a nut;

The kernel or kernels of many kinds of. palm nuts. such as the Attalea nut, the corozo nut. the

babassu nut, the macanilla nut, etc., contain a valuable oil, which may be extracted from the kernels, after the nuts have been opened and the kernels have been disengaged from the shell of the nuts. According to the perspective views of Figs. 1-3, palm nuts of above described kind may contain one kernel 30, or two kemels 3! and 32, or three kemels 33, 34 and 35, which are hermetically enclosed in a rather hard shell 36, 31 or 38 respectively. If such a nut is opened by a cracking device, the kernel or kernels are more or less mutilated, as, owing to the lack of any space between the kernel or' kernels and the shell, portions of the shell are pressed into the substance of the kemel or kernels during the cracking operation. A mutilation of the kernels, however, reduces the output in oil.

There are machines on the market foia mechanical opening oi' the palm nuts by means of knives or the like splitting the nuts by cuts extending in the direction of the longitudinai axis of the nut. Figs. 4 and 5 diagrammatically illustrate the operation of such a nut-opening machine. For example, during the operation of such a nut-opening machine, the four knives 39, 40,- 4|

and 42 are moved toward the center 43 of the the kernel during the cracking operation, these machines do not provide for an automatic mechanical separation of the kernel from the shell.

Therefore, the output in kernels extracted from the nuts is rather small; as, after the mechanical opening of the nuts, the kernel portions must be manually disengaged from the shell portions in a difflcult and time consuming manner. Furthermore, the hitherto known nut-opening machines of above described type require a previous assortment of the nuts according to their diameter,

and the lengthwise splitting of the nuts is im- I pi'actibal when the nuts contain two or more kernels as shown in Figs. '2 and 3.

An object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the extraction of the 'kernel or kernels !rom a nut, by means of which both the opening of the nut and the separation of the kernel from the shell are mechanically performed.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the mechanical extraction of the kernel or kernels from a nut, which does not require a' previous assortment ofthe nuts according to their size.

still another object of my invention is to provide an extracting apparatus of above described type having& great output in kernels extracted from the nuts.

The above mentioned objects and advantages as welleas otherobjects and advantages will be more fully disclosed in the following speciflcation reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this speciflcation, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective sectional view of a nut having one kernel,

Fig. 'I illustrates a longitudinal sectional view ot a-nut divided into four slices by the circular saws of the' apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, partly in section, some parts being omitted and some parts being broken away. for the sake of better illustration,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken on line 9 --9 of Fig. 8, some parts being omitted and some parts being broken away for the purpose of better illustration.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken on line lO-IO of Fig. 8, some parts being omitted 'and some parts being broken away for the sake of better illustration,

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the apparatus according to the invention, some parts being omitted and some parts being broken away for the sake of better illustration, I

Figs. lla and llb are fragmentary sectional views of a portion of thekernel expellerand a controlling rod tor the drive of the conveyor cara,424,osa

3 rying the; slices of the nuts as iliustrated by Fig. 11, said elements being shown in diilerent positions,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view ot the apparatus taken on line !2-!2 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the' conveyor and a portion ot the idling wheel engaged with the conveyor, taken on line !8--18 of' the conveyor taken chutes associated with each group of circular saws for placing the two center slices o! the nuts cut by the circular saws in a proper position onto the conveyor.

Referring now to Fig's. 8-11, 88 indicates the base of the apparatus carried by the supports 82.

` A supply table 84 mounted on said base 88 serves returns on the inclined surface o!! the supply 4 table 84 into the open mouth oi! said two tonss'ot a set. Now, the arms 84 are disengaged from the cams 82 of the tongs, and when the two tongs of a set reach the position of the upper leit hand tongs in Fig. 9, the tongs are closed by the action oi their springs 88 tightiy clamping the nut.

During a continuation ot the rotation of the two tongs of a set, they pass in closed condition through the two spaces between the three circular saws 88 of a group, so that the nut held by the ,tongs in a position with its longitudinai axis B --B substantially parallel to the axis ot said group is cut by the saws in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B-B of the nut as best shown in Figs. 8 and 7. Thua, the nut is divided into two end slices !88 and two center slices !82 (see Fig. 7). According to Fig. .8 the end slices !88 cut of! i'rom the nut drop into a chute !84 leading same into a waste box !88. The center slices !82, however, are held by the two tongs 84 of a set of tongs, until, during the rotation of the tongs, the cams 82 open the tongs to receive the nuts 88, the kernels ot which are to be extracted by the apparatus.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings four groups 88 of three circular saws 88 each are arranged on a driving shaft 82 Journalied in the two brackets 84 !or the opening of the nuts. The

various groups 88 oi' circular saws are spaced from each other by large sleeves 88 arranged on the shaft 82, and the individual circular saws 88 oi' each group are spaced from each other by small sleeves 88 also arranged on the shalt 82. Furthermore, on each side oi' the saw arrangement comprising the four groups 88 an end sleeve n is arranged on theshart 82. The circular saws 88 are positively connected with the driving shai't 82 by means of nuts '!2 screwed on a threaded portion of the shaft and pressed against the end sleeves 18 of the saw'arrangement' The driving shaft 82 is rotated by a motor 14 mounted on the base 88 through the medium oi a belt 18 trainedaround a pulley 18 keyed to` the shalt 88 of the motor and a pulley 82 keyed to the shaft 82.

,The nuts 88 are picked up !rom the supply table 54 by gripping means or tongs 84, on'e arm 88 of which is integral with a hub 88 secured to a rotatable driving shaft 88 by a screw 81 (see Fig. 9) A group oi tongs 84 is associated with each group 88 of circular saws 88, and each group of tongs comprises four sets 88 of two tongs 84 each. The two tongs oi each set are arranged in alignment, so that only one of the tongs of each set may be seen in Fig. 9; Fig. 8, however, illustrates the two tongs 84 of a set 88. The shatt 88 carrying th'e tongs 84 is iournaiied in a pluralit of brackets 88 secured to the base 88. A cam 82 is mounted on each side oi each bracket 88 opposite a group 88 oi circular saws tor cooperation with the !ree ends of the spring loaded arms 84 of the tongs 84. If, during a rotation oi the shat 88 in clockr the two tongs against the action oi their spring 88. During a further clockwise rotation o! the two tongs, the latter pass in open condition through siots 88 oi' the suppiy table 84 pushing back the most advanced nut oi' the supply ot nuts. Thereupon, during the continuation ot the rotation of the two tongs. the most advanced nut against the action of the springs 88. Now, when the tongs are approximately in the position oi the lower right tongs shown in Fig. 8, they release the center slices dropping into the positioning chutes !88, !88', by means of which they are brought in proper position on the movable bucket conveyor generaliy indieated by !!8 as will be described hereinafter. The distance between the axis oi' the shaft 88 and the axis of the shaft 82 is chosen in such a manner. that the cutting oi the nut with .the largest diameter to be expected is assured. The distance between the individual saws of a group 88 of circular saws is chosen in such away, that the end slices !88 are neither too small nor too large, and that the top suriaces !!2 (see Fig. '7) o! the truncated conica keme] portions !!4 of the center slices !82 are o! sumcient size !or a proper operation oi the kernel expeller to be described hereinafter. The tour sets 88 of tongs of the four groups of tongs are in alignment with each other, so that tour nuts are cut simultaneously by the four groups 88 of saws.

The shaft 88 carrying the tongs 84 is also driven by the motor 14. For this purpose, a pulley' !8 secured to the shaft 88 of the motor is connected by a belt !8 with a pulley !28 keyed to a rotatable shaft !22 hearing a worm !24 meshing with a worm gear !28 keyed to the shalt 88. Owing to the reduction gear !24, !28 the shaft 88 is rotated by the motor '!4 at a lower speed than the shat 82. For example, if each cutting'operation oi four nuts simultaneously presented to the four groups of saws by four aligned sets 88 of tongs requires 10 seconds, the shaft 88 driving the tongs may be rotated at a speed of 1.5 rotations per minute, while the shaft 82 driving the circular saws may be rotated at a speed of 3000 rotations per minute.

As pointed out above, the two center slice !02 of each nut are led to the conveyor !!8 by a pair oi positioning chutes !88, !88', one pair being associated with each group 88 of circular saws. The endless conveyor !!8 comprising a plurality of carriages !28 connected with each other by links !88 carries the center slices to the expelling means !82 at the right hand end of the apparatus as viewed in Fig. 11. Said expelling means !82 is equipped with" a series of three, spring loaded hammers !84, by means oi' whichduring a downward stroke thereoi, the kerne portion of the slices is disengaged from the shell portion of the portions to a kernel container !40 as best shown in Fig. 12 Considering now Fig. 16, it will be obvious, that the separation of the kernel portion !4 from the sheu portion !42 of a center slice 'by a hammer expelling the kemel portion !!4 through the opening !36 of the carriage !28 may be carried out only, if the small top surface !2 of the kernel portion faces the hammer. After the cutting operation, however, the nuts are held substantially in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, it is necessary to turn the two center slices of substantially the shape of a truncated cone in such a way, that they come to rest with their large base !44 on the carriages !28 so that their top surface !2 faces the hammers upon reaching same; For this purpose the positioning chutes !08 and !08' receiving the center slices !02 and leading same to the carriages of the conveyor are twisted in reversed manner with respect to each other as best shown in Fig. 17. The

left hand chute !08 conveys the left hand center slice as viewed in Fig. 7 to the conveyor, and the right hand chute !08' conveys the right hand cen- The delivery ends of the positioning v,

ter slice. ohutes !08 and !08' are arranged in such a position, that the left hand center slice being further away from the expelling means is turned in the advancing direction C of the conveyor and that the left hand center slice being nearer to theexpelling means is turned against the advancing direction C of the conveyor, so that the center slices drop onto the carriages !28 of the conveyor in the desired position as described above.

As best shownin Figs. 13-16, each carriage I 28 of the endless bucket conveyor comprises two supporting elements !46 loosely arranged on bolts !48 passing through openings of the supporting elements. Tension springs !50 stretched between the supporting element !46 tend to bring same in contact with each other at the edges of their supporting extensions or bottoms 52 as shown in Fig. 13, for example. Each bottom !52 is provided with a recess !54 so as to form above described opening !36 for the passage of the expelled kernel. The width a (see Flg. 16) of the supporting portion of the bottom !52 is substantially equal to the width of the shell of a nut. As pointed out above, the carriages 28 are connected with each other by the links !30. These links being in pivotal engagement with the bolts !48 are made of resilient material, so that they may yield to a certain degree when the supporting elements !46 of a carriage are spread apart from each other for'a purpose to be described hereinafter while the supporting elements of the adjacent carriag are in contact with each other at the edges !5! of their bottoms !52 as shown in Fig. 14. The conveyor !!0 passing through openings !56 of the brackets 64 is trained around the driving wheel !58 keyed to the driving shaft !60 journalled in the bracket !62 secured to the base 50 and around the idling wheel !64 arranged on the shaft !66 journ'alled in the bracket !68 secured to the base 50. In a manner to be described hereinafter the conveyor !!0 is intermittently moved in the direction of the arrow C by means of the driving wheel !58 having notches on its epokes for engagement with the bolts 48 of the conveyor.

When the carriages !28 of the conveyor !!0 are in engagement with the idling wheel !64, the movable supporting elements !46,of the carriages are held in contact with each other at the edges !5! of their bottoms !52 by the springs !50 as shown in Fig.'13. In this position of the elethe container !82.

ments !46 the distance between 'the vertical walls of the latter is too small for the reception of a center slice delivered by the positioning chutes !08, !08'. Therefore, shortly before and during the passage of 'the carriages along the deiivery ends of the positioning chutes, the supporting elements !46 are spread apart from each other by spreading means generally indicated by !12 in Figs. 11 and 15. said spreading means comprise a member !14 mounted on the -base 60 and provided with a plurality ot pairs of spreading rollers !16 rotatably arranged on vertical bolts !18. The rollers of each pair are arranged at such a distance from each other, that, upon engagement with the supporting elements !46, the latter are spread apart from each other to such an extent, that the distance between the vertical walls of the supporting elements becomes larger than the diameter of the shell of the nuts, as best shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Thus, each carriage !28 may readily receive a center slice from a positioning chute, when it passes along such a chute.

As soon as the carriages !28 are disengaged from the spreading means !12 during their advancement in the direction of the arrow C (Fig. 11), the springs !50 urge the supporting elements !46 toward each other, whereby the center slice received by a carriage is tightly clamped by the supporting elements !46 as shown in Fig. 16. In this condition the center slices are presented to the hammers !34 of the expeller !32`by the carriages. After the expelling of the kernel portion from the shell of the nut, the spring loaded supporting elements !46 of the carriages tightly hold the empty shell, until they are again spread apart from each other by second spreading means similar to the first spreading means !12, whereby the empty shells are released for discharge into After disengagement of the supporting elements !46 from the second spreading means !80, theelements !46 are again in close contact with each other at the edges !5! of the bottoms !52 by the springs !50 as described above.

As will be apparent from above, the resilient clamping means !46, !50 of the carriages !28 of the conveyor I 0 automatically adjust themselves to the size of the nuts, so that a previous assortment of the nuts according to their size is unnecessary.

As pointed out above, the expelling means !32. comprises the three hammers !34. These hammers are slidably. arranged in bores !84 of a lever !86 swinga-bly arranged on a shaft !88 carried by brackets !90 Secured to the base 50. Each hammer is equipped with a head !82 normally resting on the upper surface of the lever !86 under the action of a spring !94. The lever !86 carrying the spring loaded hammers' !34 is oscillated by means of a conneoting rod !86 having one of its ends linked to a pin !88 projeoting from the lever !86 and having its other end linked to a, pin 200 projecting from a disc 202 keyed to the shaft 80 of the motor 14. If, during a downward stroke of the expelling means !32, a hammer !34 properly hits th kernel portion of a center slice !02 held by a carriage !28 of the conveyor, the kernal portion will be expelled by the hammer slidably arranged in the bore !04 will yield against the action o! the spring !04.

For the sake of a smooth operation of the expelling means, the' conveyor should be ad vanced intermittently in timed relationship to the operation of the expelling means so as to avoid an advancement oi' the conveyor during the expelling proper of the kemel portion by the' must be' adjusted in such a way, that, during the cutting operation of said four nuts, the conveyor is advanced step by step through at least such a distance, that all of the eight center slices delivered by the positioning chutes onto the conveyor at the end oi the previous cuttingoperation are brought to the expelling means, so that at the end arranged on the shaft !00 carrying the driving wheel !00 keyed thereto. 2 0 in engagement with a ratchet wheel 2 !0 keyed a to the shait !00 is pivotally moun ted on the arm' 2l4 at 220. The free end of the arm 2 !4 may abut against a shoulder 222 on the base 00 as best shown in Flg. ll. The arrangement of the shoulder 222 is in such a relationship to the extension -204 cooperating with the head 2!0 of the controlling rod 200. that, during a downward stroke oi' the lever !00, the arm 2l4 comes to a rest on the shoulder 222 shortly before the hammers !04 reach the center slices held by the carriages ot the conveyor as shown in Fig. 11. During the further downward movement of the lever !00 into the position !00' shown in Fig. lla 'tor an expelling of a kernelportion, the arm 2 !4 rests on the shoulder 222, so that the head 2!0 of the controlling rod 200 is disengaged from the extension 204. The arm 2l4 remains in contact with the shoulder 2 22, until, during the subsequent upward movement of the lever !00, the lever !00 reachesagain the position shown in Fig. 11. Thereupon, during the continuation of the upward movement of the lever !00 into the position !00" shown in Fig. llb, the controlling rod 200 is lifted by the extension 204 engaged with the head, whereby the arm 2!4 is rocked in clockwlse direction as viewed in Fig. 11 i'or an advancing o! the conveyor !!0 through a predetermined distance by means of the ratchet wheel drive 2! 0, 2!0 and the 'driving wheel !00. During the subsequent downward movement of the lever !00 from the position !00" shown in Fig. llb into the position shown in Fig. 11, the pawl 2!0 slides along the circumi'erence of the ratchet wheel 2!0 without rotating same. Thus, the conveyor !!0 is intermittently advanced in timed relationship to the operation of the expelling means in such a way that the conveyor remains at a standstill shortly before and during the penetration of a hammer into a center slice.- i

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 12, the three hammers !34 are arranged adjacent each other in a row, which is at an angle to the row of carriages of the conveyor !!0. Owing to this arrangement of the hammers !34 relative to the conveyor and owing to the .intermittent advancement oi' .the conveyor as described above, the entire area of a center slice is subjected to the action of the expelling means irrespective oi the shane 'of the slice and the shape oi the kernel portion oi said slice. v

As pointed out above. four nuts are cut simultaneously by the four groups' 00 oi circuiar saws 00, and each carriage !20 may receive one center slice. Therefore, the drive !or the conveyor !!0 A spring loaded pawl oi' the new cutting operation the new center slices may be delivered to the carriages of the conveyor.

In other words, ii n represents the number of` nuts cut at the same time, the number of center slices produced by each cutting operation amounts to 211, and, as each carriage of the conveyor carries at the most only one center slice, the conveyor must be advanced through a distance d of at least 271. carriages during each cutting operation. Furthermore, if c represents the length of each carriage and ii s represents the number of strokes oi' the lever !00 during each cutting operation, the advance t oi the conveyor per stroke of 'the lever !00 equals to The shalt 02 carrying the groups 50 of circular i saws 00, the shai't 00 carrying the tongs 04, and the oscillating lever !00 of the expelling means !32 are driven continuously by the motor 14. The conveyor !!0 is advanced step by step by the ratchet wheeldrive !50, 2!4, 2!0, 2!0 controlled by the oscillating' lever !00 through the medium of the rod 200.

. The nuts 50 to be opened are brought in 'any suitable manner onto the supply table 54. Four nuts are plcked up simultaneously by :our sets 00 of tongs. The nuts gripped by the tongs are presented to four groups 50 of circular saws 00 for a simultaneous cutting of the nuts. After the performance of the cutting operation, the two end slices oieach nut drop into the waste box !00, while thetwo center slices !02 of each nut are placed in proper position onto the conveyor !!0 by the positloning chutes !00, !00'. Each carriage !20 of the conveyor receives at the most only one center slice. The center slices !02 held by the clamping elements !40, !50 of the carriages are brought to the expelling means !32, by means of which the kernel portions !4 of the center slices are expelled. The kernel portions thus extracted from the nuts are discharged into the container !40, while the empty shell portions of the center slices are automatically delivered into the container !02.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous' changes and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, instead of four sets of tongs any other number of sets of tongs could be associated with each group of circular saws. Furthermore, any other number of groups of circular saws instead of four may be arranged in the apparatus. Moreover, under certain circumstances each group of circular saws may consist of more or less than three saws. Furthermore, the bucket conveyor, its drive, its carriages and its clamping means may be constructed in a different manner.- Or, the expelling means shown in the drawings may be replaced 'by an expelling means having more than three spring loaded hammers or by another separating means ot a different construction, if desired.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus tor the extraction of the kemel or kernels from a nut, the combination of:

means for cutting the nuts clear through the kemel or kernels in a direction substantially perpendicular to their longitudinal axis so as to- 'substantially in the shape of a truncated cone,

expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means forconveying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expelling means, and driving means for anautomatic operation of said cutting means and said expelling means. i e

2. In an apparatus for the extraction of the kemel or kernels from a nut, the combination of: means for cutting the nuts in a direction substantially perpenelicular to their longltudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a. plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, a spring loaded hammer for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means for conveying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said spring loaded hammer, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means and said spring loaded hammer.

3. In an apparatus for the extraction of the kemel or kernels from a nut,- the combination of: means for cutting the nuts clear through the kemel or kernels in a direction substantially per- 5. In an apparatus kemel or kernels from a'. nut, the combination of: means for cutting the nuts clear through the kernel or kernels in a direction substantially perpendicular to their longitudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of silces consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, expelling means for expelling the kemel portion from the shell portion of a slice, a movable conveyor for carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expelling means, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means,- said conveyor and said expelling means.

6'. In an apparatus for the extraction of the I kemel or kernels from a nut, the combination of:

means for cutting the nuts in a direction substantially perpendicular to their longitudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a trun-' cated cone,`expelling means including a plurality of spring loaded hammers for expelling the kemel 'portion from the sheliportion of a slice, an endless bucket conveyor including a plurality of carpendicular to their longitudinal .axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means for conveying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expelling means, positioning means for placing said center slices onto said conveying means in such'a position that the small surface of each center slice faces the' expelling means upon reaching same, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means and said expelling means.

- 4. In an apparatus for the extraction of the r oi' circular saws for presenting the nuts to the group of circular saws with the longitudinal axis of the nuts substantially parallel to the axis of the group oi' circular saws whereby each nut is divided by the circular saws into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and two center slices substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means for conveying the centerislices delivered by the saws to said expelling means, a first positipning chute associated with each of said groups of circular saws for receiving one of said two center slices delivered by each group of saws, a second positioning chute associated with each of said groups of circular saws for receiving the other center slice delivered by each group of saws, said two positioning chutes being of such a shape and having their delivery ends in such a position so as tc place each center slice of substantially truncated conical shape with its base onto said conveying means so that the top surface of each center slice faces the expelling means upon reaching same, and driving means for an automatic operation of said groups of circular saws and said expelling means.

riages movably connected with each other, aid bucket conveyor being arranged for carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting meansto said expelling means and for cooperation with said spring. loaded hammers of said expelling means, said spring loaded hammers being ar ranged adjacent to each other in a row at an angle to the row of carriages of the bucket conveyor cooperating with said hammers, and driv- 'ing means for an automatic operation of said cutting means, said bucket conveyor and said expelling means.

'7. In anapparatus for the extraction of the kernel or kernels from a nut, the combination of: means for cutting the nuts clear through the kernel or kernels in a direction substantially perpendic'ular to their longitudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, expelling means for expelling the kemel portion from the shell portion of a slice, an endless bucket conveyor including a plurality of carriages movably connected with each other, said bucket conveyor being arranged for carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expelling means and for cooperation with said expelling means, clamping means arranged on the carriages of the bucket'conveyor; control- ..ling means arranged for cooperation with said clamping means .for a timed opening and closing thereof so as to receive the center slices, to hold same for presenting same to the expelling means and to release the shell portion of the slices after the expelling of the kernel portion by the expelling means, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means, said bucket conveyor' and said expelling means.

8. In an apparatus for the extraction of the kemel or kernels from a nut, the combination of: means for cuttng the nuts clear through the kemel or kernels in a direction substantially perpendicular to their longitudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices 'consisting of two end slices and at'least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated qone, expelling means for expelling the kemel portion from the shell portion of a slice, an endless bucket conveyor including a 'plurality of for the eitraction of the anesore carriages movably connected with each other, said bucket conveyor being arranged tor carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expellins means and for cooperation with said expelling means, each carriage o: said buciret conveyor comprising two supporting elements tioning chute associated with each of said groups.

movabiy arranged with respect toeach other,

spring means associated with said supporting elemente for urging same toward each other. controiling means arranged'for cooperation with said spring loaded supporting elements for' a timed v spreading apart from each other ?and releasins of said supporting elements so as to receive the center slices, to hold 'same for presenting same to the expellin'g means and to release the shell portion of the slices after the expelling of the kernel portion by the expelling means, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means, said bucket conveyor and said expelling means. L

s. In an apparatus for the extraction o! the kernel or kemels from a nut, the combination oi: means i'or cutting the nuts in a direction substantialy perpendiculato their longitudinal exisso as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices consisting o! two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape oi a truncated cone; expelling' means for expelling the kernel portion !rom the shell portion of a slice, a movable conveyor for carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expeiling means, positioning means for placing said center slices oi substantially truncated conical shape with their beses onto said movable conveyor so that the top surface of each center slice faces the expelling means upon teaching same. and driving means for an automatic operation oi' said cutting means. movable conveyor and expelling means..

10. In an apparatus for the extraction o! the kernel or kemels from a nut, the combination of: at least one group of spaced circular saws, reading means associated with each group ot circular saws for presenting the nuts to the group of circular saws with the longitudinal axis ot the nuts substantially parallel to the axis of the group of circular saws whereby each nut is divided by the circular saws into a plurality o! slices consisting of .two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone,

expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell 'portion of a slice. a movable conveyor tor conveying the center slices delivered by said saws to said expelling means, positioning means for placin'g said center slices ot substantially truncated conical shape with their beses `onto said movable conveyor so that the top surrace of each center slice faces the expelling means upon teaching same, and driving means tor an automatic operation of said groups of circular saws, movable conveyor and expelling means.

11. In an' apparatus for 'the extraction of the kernel or kernels from a nut, the combination of: at least one group oi' three spaced circular saws.

ieeding means associated with each group of circular saws for presenting the nuts to the group of circular saws with the longitudinal axis of the nuts substantially parallel to the axis of the group of circular saws whereby each nut is divided by .the circular saws into a plurality of slices consisting ot two end slices and two center slices substantially in the shape o! a truncated oone, expelling means tor expelling the kerneportion from the shell portion ot a slice. a movable conveyor for carrying the center slices delivered by said saws to said expelling means, a ilrst posiother center slice delivered by each group of saws,

said two positioning chutes being oi sucha shane and having their delivery ends in' such a position so as to place each center slice of substantially truncated conical shape with its base onto said movable conveyor so that the top urface of each center slice faces the expelling means upon reaching same, and driving means for an automatic operation of said groups of circular saws, movabic conveyor and expelling means.

12. In combination with the elements of an apparatus as claimed in claim 10, an endless bucket conveyor including a plurality of carriages movably connected with each other, said bucket conveyor being arranged for carrying the center slices ,delivered by said saws to said expelling means and for cooperation with said expelling` means, clamping means arranged on the carriages oi' the buck'et conveyor and controlling means arpendicular to their longitudinal axis so as to divide each nut into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one centerslice substantially in the shape oi' a `truncated cone. expelling means tor expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a, slice, a movabie conveyor for carrying the center slices delivered by said cutting means to said expelling means, driving means for a'continuous operation of said cutting means and said expelling means, and a 'driving mechanism for an intermittent advancing of said conveyor in tirned relationship to the operation of said expiling' means. i

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including controlling means associated with said anism for an intermittent advancing of the conveyor.

15. In an apparatus for'the extraction ot the kernel or kernels rrom a nut, the combination of at least one group otspaced circular saws, gripping means associated with each group ot circular saws tor receiving the nuts from a supply and presenting the nuts to the group of circular saws with the longitudinal axis of the nuts substantially parallel tothe axis of the group oi' circular saws 'whereby each riut is cut clear through the kernel or kernels and is divided by the circular saws into a plurality of slices consistinz of two end slices and at least one center slice substantially in the shape of a truncated cone, expelling means for expelling the kernel portion !rom the shell portion oi' a slice, a movable conveyor for-carrying the center slices delivered by &424.022

16. In an apparatus for the 'extraction or the kernel or kernels from a nut. the combination of:

arranged in a row for a substantially simu1tane-` ous cutting of a number of nuts equal to the number of cutting means, expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a, slice, a movable conveyor arranged for receiving the center slices from said `=cutting means and for carrying said center slices to said expelling means, and driving means for an automatic operation of said cutting means, said conveyor and said expelling means, said driving means including a mechanism for advancing the conveyor during a cutting operation of the cutting means through a distance at least equal to the distance between the first and last cutting means of said series of cutting means.

17. In an apparatus for the extraction of the' V kernel or kernels from a nut, the combination of a series of groups of -spaced circular saws, gripping means associated with each group of circular saws for receiving 'the nuts !rom a supply and presenting the nuts substantially simultaneously to the series of groups of circular saws with the longitudinal axis of the nuts substantially parallel to the axes of the groups of circular saws whereby a number of nuts equal tothe number of groups of circular saws is divided simultaneously and whereby each nut is divided by the'circular saws into a plurality of slices consisting of two end slices and at least one center slice the sectional planes of which include a shell portion and a substantial kerne portion, expelling means for expelling the kernel-portion from the shell portion of a, slice, a movable conveyor arranged for receiving the center slices from said groups of circular saws and for carrying said center slices to said expelling means, and driving means tor an automatic operation of said groups of circular saws, said conveyor and said expelling means, said driving means including a mechanism for advancing the conveyor during a cutting operation of the series of groups of' circular saws step by step in timed relationship to the operation of the expelling means through a distance at least equal to the distance between the first circular saw of the first group of circular saws and the last circular saw of the last group of circular saws.

18. An apparatus for the extraction of the kernel portion from the shell portion of slices of nuts being substantially in the shape of truncated cones, comprising: expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means for conveying the slices to said expelling means, and a positioning chute for receiving the slices, said positioning chute being of such a shape and having its delivery end in such a pjosition so as to place said slices of substantially truncated conical shape with their bases onto said conveying means so that the top surface of the slices faces the expelling means upon reaching same.

19. An apparatus for the extraction of the kernel portion from the shell portion of slices of nuts being substantially in the. shape of truncated cones, comprising: a spring loaded hammer for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, means for conveying the slices to said spring loaded hammer, a positioning chute 14 for receivingtheslices, said positioning V ing of such a shape and having its delivery 'end in such a position so as to place said slices of substantially truncated conical shape with their bases onto'said conveying means so that the top surrace ofthe slices faces the spring loaded hammer upon reaching' same, and driving means for an automatic operation of said spring loaded hammer.

20. An apparatus for the extraction of. the kernci portion from the shell portion of slices of nuts being substantially in the shape of truncated cones, comprising: a plurality of spring loaded hammers for expellin the kernel portion the bucket conveyorpositioning means for receiving said slices of substa'ntially truncated conical shape and !or automatically placing same with their bases onto said bucket conveyor so that the top surface of the slices faces the expelling means v upon reaching same, and driving means for an automatic operation of said spring loaded hammers and said bucket conveyor.

21. An apparatus for the extraction of the kernel portion from the shell portion of slices of nuts being substantially in the shape of truncated cones, comprising: expelling means for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, a movable conveyor for carrying-the slices to said expelling means, a positioning chute for v receiving the` slices, said positioning chute being or such a shape and having its delivery end in such a position so as to place said slices of .substantially truncated conical shape with their bases onto said conveyor so that the top surface of the slices faces the expelling means upon reaching same, driving means for an actuation of said expelling means, a driving mechanism actuated by said expelling means and connected with said conveyor for driving same, and means associated with said driving 'mechanism for causing an intermittent advancing of said conveyor in timed relationship to the operation of said expelling means.

22. An apparatus for the extraction of the ker-nel portion from the shell portion of slices of nuts being substantially in the shape of truncated cones, comprising: a plurality of spring loaded hammers for expelling the kernel portion from the shell portion of a slice, a movable conveyor for carrying the slices to said expelling means, said spring loaded hammersbeing arranged ad- 'jacent to each other in a row at an angle to the longitudina axis of the conveyor, positioning means for receiving said slices of substantially truncated conical shape and for automatically placing same with their bases onto said conveyor so that-the top surface of the slices faces the expelling means upon reaching same, driving means for an actuation of said spring loaded hammers, and a driving mechanism for an intermittent advancing of said conveyor in timed relationship to the operation of said spring loaded hammers.

i i chute bev conveyor including a abl'y connected with each other. said, bucket conveyor being arranged for carrying the slices to :neserme plulity of carriages :mov-

said spring loaded hammers, said spring loaded-' hammers being arrenged adjacent to each other in a row st an angle to'the raw carriages of the bucket conveyonclampingmeens errengecl on I loaded hammers. positioning means for receiving said slioes of substantialy truncated conical shape and for automatically placing..same with their beses onto said conveyor so that the top surface oi' the slices faces the spring loaded hammer& upon teaching same, driving means tor a con.

;tinuous operation of seid spring loaded hammers, and s driving mechanism for an intermittent advancing of said conveyor in timed reletionshin to the operation. of 'said spring loaded hammer& v

FRITZ ALBERT-DEUTSCH.

REFERENCES erren The following references are of record in the file of -this patent:

UNITED BTATES EA 'z Name Number i Date 826,'785 Hormby July 24, 1906 1,553,227 Feyk et ai sept. 8, 1925 1302394 Walker Apr. 21, 1931 667.423 Brown Feb. 5, 1901 2,271,675 Ashlcck, Jr. Feb. 3, 1942 l-,645,600 Kobler Oct. 18, 1927 

